Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body is not able to produce insulin properly. There are three different types of diabetes-

• Type 1 Diabetes:
  In type 1 diabetes, the body is unable to produce insulin. It is most commonly found in children and adolescents. In this type of diabetes, the patient has to take in more insulin to maintain their blood glucose level. The symptoms develop quickly, typically over the course of several weeks.
• Type 2 Diabetes:
  The body can produce insulin but is not able to respond to it. This most commonly occurs in adults. About 90% of the patient’s diabetes is controlled by oral medication. Symptoms generally develop over the course of a few years.
• Type 3 Gestational Diabetes:
  This kind of diabetes occurs during pregnancy. It is also called pregnancy-induced diabetes. Gestational diabetes usually disappears after the delivery of the baby. Depending on the blood sugar levels, this diabetes is managed by oral medication or insulin.

If not controlled, diabetes can lead to the development of diseases in your heart, kidneys, nerves, stroke and it can also lead to a possibility of amputation.

1. Macrovascular Diseases- damage to the large vessels.

• Heart Attack,
• Stroke and
• Peripheral Arterial Diseases

2. Microvascular Diseases- damage to the small vessels.

• Eyes,
• Kidneys and
• The nervous system

1. Nerve Pain- Called diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Patients usually feel tingling and burning sensations in the feet, problems with digestion, sex problems, loss of bowel and bladder control.

2. Eye Problems–  Common eye problems that can affect people with diabetes are-

A. Retinopathy,
B. Diabetic macular edema,
C. Cataracts and
D. Glaucoma
Diabetes can cause damage to the eyes that can lead to poor vision or even blindness.

3. Kidney Problems- Diabetes harms the blood vessels inside the kidneys causing damage to the kidneys. The vessels narrow and clog up. One of the earliest signs of kidney disease is increased excretion of albumin in the urine.

4. Stroke- When the blood vessels in the brain get damaged, it can lead to a stroke. Some of the symptoms of a stroke are-

A. Numbness/ weakness of the face, arms or legs,
B. Confusion,
C. Trouble understanding speech,
D. Dizziness and
E. Face dropping

5. Heart Problems-  They are very common in people with diabetes. High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels and nerves that control the heart. Some of the symptoms are-
A. Shortness of breath,
B. Dizziness,
C. Unexplained swelling,
D. Pain in shoulder, jaw and left arm and
E. Chest pains or pressure.